There’s no such thing as a bad day in a candy store, according to Casey Petz.

He should know.

Chocolate runs in his blood: He’s a fourth-generation chocolatier (the great-grandson of Ervin and Julia Morley of Morley Candy Makers) and he spent a decade working for Morley. Even though he’s a full-time elementary school teacher, Petz was unable to resist the pull of chocolate and in 2010 started Detroit Chocolat in Sterling Heights (to the delight of his mother and his wife whom he calls a “chocolate addict.”)

A teacher by day and chocolatier early mornings, evenings and weekends, Petz calls his business the re-imagining of the candy store. When the local economy took a nosedive in 2009-10, “we wanted to do something positive for Michigan.”

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So his Detroit Chocolat business features “Grande” candy products, using ingredients from more than 20 Michigan and Detroit area-based suppliers, including Better Made Potato Chips (pretzels and licorice sticks, too), Kelly’s Karamels in Troy, Dawn Foods in Romulus, and Germack Nuts.

“Our goal is to serve our customers the very best chocolate products out there, with a little local flavor,” said Petz, who enjoys cultivating relationships with small businesses.

The shop also sells packages of popcorn (including such unusual flavors as cinnamon bun and dill pickle) from Shelby Township-based The Popped Kernel; tiles from Pewabic Pottery in Detroit; Cherry Republic products; Great Lakes Tea and Spice; Shurms Candy; bottles of Faygo soda; and instead of bottled water, the cooler contains mini-cartons of water from Grand Rapids.

Petz, who teaches at Edison Elementary School in Fraser, said the only non-local product he carries is Jelly Belly because the jelly beans are made in a peanut-free plant. That gives children with nut allergies something to take home from the candy store.

Want to create your own candy bar? You can do that, too: $2.95 for a regular-size milk chocolate bar with your choice of additions, $4.50 for a large.

On June 18, chocoholics can concoct their own candy bars as part of Detroit Chocolat’s “Grande Opening.” There’s no charge that day to make a bar, but donations will be accepted for Rising Stars Academy in Center Line.

Petz describes Rising Star as a charter school for 18- to 26-year-olds with special needs. The emphasis there is on culinary education, with students tending a 5-acre community garden, learning everything from growing to care to harvesting and then cooking the bounty.

“We’re giving them food experience,” said Petz about the project that works to provide real-life job skills.

“Special needs kids need to feel a purpose,” said Petz, adding that he has family members with special needs.

In addition to helping Rising Star Academy, Tuesday’s “Grande Opening” also includes tasting of chocolates fresh from the test kitchen, “Chocolat” inspired food sampling starting at 1 p.m., and a supplier showcase from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Detroit Choclat is at 13923 Lakeside Circle, on the perimeter of Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights. Store hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. It will be open until 8 p.m. on June 18. For more information, www.detroitchocolat.com or 586-566-8620.